Author: Vardiafrica

Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbé is facing growing pressure following a government clampdown on protests calling for his resignation over recent changes in the constitution that could effectively keep him in power indefinitely. Activists on Tuesday condemned the arrest and alleged maltreatment of dozens of people following staged protests late last week in Togo’s capital, Lomé, and on social media. The Togolese leader, who has ruled since 2005 after the death of his father, was sworn in as President of the Council of Ministers in May. The powerful role has no official term limits, and he is eligible to be re-elected…

The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has told the suspended governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara that even if he decides to join the party, his sins cannot be forgiven. Caretaker Committee chairman of the party in the state, Tony Okocha, stated this on Tuesday in Abuja while responding to questions regarding Fubara’s recent Sallah visit to President Bola Tinubu and its attendant political implications. Okocha said Fubara’s suspension and the declaration of a state of emergency was about his misdemeanors and had no political undertones. “If Fubara decides to join the APC, it has nothing…

The federal government has announced a $50 million investment in the Nigeria Wholesale Impact Investment Fund, WIIF. The ministry of finance said the investment is to show the government’s commitment to fostering sustainable economic growth. The ministry said the initiative is projected to unlock significant financing for micro, small, and medium enterprises, MSMEs and generate millions of jobs across priority sectors. According to the statement, the strategic initiative supports President Bola Tinubu’s vision of achieving 7 percent annual economic growth, with a focus on critical sectors including agriculture, infrastructure, and digital innovation. “The Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister…

The 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has decried the growing insecurity and hardship across Nigeria, describing the country as a “crime scene” in dire need of repair. Speaking at an event in Abuja on Tuesday, June 10, Obi lamented that although Nigeria is not officially at war, many citizens live like refugees, both within and outside the country. In his words; “Today in Nigeria, we’re not officially at war, yet Nigerians are living in IDP camps in their own country. Nigerians are refugees in Chad, in Cameroon. And the only reason is because we don’t…

The Federal Government in partnership with Meta, has launched the Llama Impact Accelerator, an eight-month programme designed to support early-stage startups in developing impactful artificial intelligence (AI) solutions tailored to local challenges. The initiative is a collaboration between Meta, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). The accelerator includes a six-week incubation phase offering selected startups technical training and mentorship from AI experts and industry leaders. This is followed by six months of extended support, including access to resources and development opportunities…

Billionaire Elon Musk has said he regrets some of the posts he made about US President Donald Trump during their war of words on social media. “I regret some of my posts about President Donald Trump last week. They went too far,” he said on his platform X. The two were embroiled in a public fallout, after the Tesla owner called Trump’s tax bill a “disgusting abomination”. His post comes after Trump declared that their relationship was over, and that he had no interest in mending ties with Musk The budget, which includes huge tax breaks and more defence spending,…

President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, oversaw the inauguration of the newly renovated Abuja International Conference Centre, which has now been renamed in his honour. The event, held in the Federal Capital Territory, was attended by key government figures, including FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and other top officials During his speech at the ceremony, Wike attempted to justify the controversial decision to rename the centre after Tinubu, attributing the successful renovation to the President’s leadership. He said, “It is important for the public to know and understand why this is called Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre.…

In a move to empower children and youths nationwide, the Federal Government is set to collaborate with Tunde Onakoya, the celebrated Chess Guinness World Record holder, to expand his “Chess in Slums Africa” initiative. President Bola Tinubu announced the partnership on Monday via a tweet, following a meeting with Onakoya. He commended Onakoya’s transformative impact on underserved children, emphasising that Onakoya’s vision aligns with his administration’s commitment to leave no child behind and ensure no talent is wasted. During the meeting at his Ikoyi residence in Lagos State, President Tinubu praised Onakoya’s journey from the streets of Lagos to achieving…

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated that the recent rise in Mpox cases continues to meet the criteria for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), as outlined in the International Health Regulations (IHR). In a statement, WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, confirmed that the decision followed the fourth meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee on the Mpox upsurge, held on 5 June. Dr Ghebreyesus noted that while the committee acknowledged improvements in some countries’ response capacities, it advised that the outbreak still constitutes a PHEIC. He explained that this assessment is based on the continuing increase in…

President Donald Trump has announced a new policy proposal that would see every American child born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028, receive a $1,000 investment account from the federal government. The US President unveiled the federal program on Monday, June 9. At a White House roundtable with over a dozen CEOs, including from Uber, Goldman Sachs and Dell Technologies, Trump relayed the details of “Trump accounts”. “For every US citizen born after December 31, 2024, before January 1, 2029, the federal government will make a one-time contribution of $1,000 into a tax-deferred account that will track the overall stock market,” Trump said. …